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The Millennial Minds|redefining millennials|a blog by BABRC 4-1D

It’s Time to Explore the Philippines!

Our generation spends A LOT. Yes, uh-uh don't look away. Admit it. We spend a lot on things that would gratify what we need but mostly what we just want. lol

One of the expenses of Filipinos is Traveling. And sometimes, if you have enough, an international trip is always a top choice. Who wouldn't want a vacation, right? A moment of escape from reality, no noisy buzz of city  life, no requirements, no profs. Oh what a life!  But before you explore the world, why not explore the Philippines first? After all, we have the best island in the world. I mean, we have the island of Palawan, the back-to-back best island in the world according to Travel and Leisure Magazine!

Before you go pack your stuff with a weekend Christmas getaway,  take a sneak peak of some of the crowning glories of the country – its stunning beaches particularly.

3. Cebu

Just recently, Cebu island was ranked 6th among the "best islands in the world" by Travel + Leisure, an international travel magazine. Mactan Island which is located in Cebu is home to 430,000 people. It is the most densely populated island in the Philippines and has many tourists spots and attractions. As a coral island, Mactan offers rich marine biodiversity which is good for diving and snorkeling.

While you’re there, you should be sure to island hop since the island is composed of numerous islets. There are also numerous water sports activities, like jet skiing, sailing, para-sailing.

When to Visit: Try to visit in the off-season to avoid overcrowding. January through May are the driest months, and you should expect rain the rest of the year. Even the driest months have rain though, since Cebu is one of the wettest areas of the Philippines.

What It’s Known For: A popular in-and-out holiday destination with plenty of world-class resorts to choose from. Also check out other nearby towns as they offer loads of potential for nature trippers like waterfalls, lagoons, lakes, beaches and mountains.



2. Boracay


Boracay is a small island 315 km south of Manila in the province of Aklan. Famous for its powdery white sands and pristine blue waters, Boracay is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Philippines. It has over 350 resorts and about 2,000 rooms to accommodate guests, which range from luxury hotels to budget-friendly inns.

This island has something for everyone, from water sports, scuba diving, and snorkeling, to nightlife with great pubs, bars, and restaurants, to a relaxing and tranquil environment.

If you do go scuba diving or snorkeling, you’ll see many species of aquatic life that are indigenous to the Philippines. You could also take the opportunity to go helmet diving, which is where you simply put on a helmet with glass plates, climb a ladder down ten feet to a (shallow) ocean floor, and walk around as if you were on land

The best and most famous beach in Boracay is the White Beach, which has been called the "finest beach in the world.” In 2012, Boracay Island was named “Best Island in the World” by international travel magazine Travel + Leisure. Puka, on the northern side of Boracay, was also on CNN's 100 Most Beautiful Beaches in the World.

For 2016, international travel magazine Travel + Leisure ranked Boracay island as the 2nd best island in the world after Palawan which is also a famous Philippine island off the southern part of main island Luzon.

While the western side of the island is known for the White Beach, the eastern side is home to Bulabog beach, which is a great place for extreme sports like wind and kite surfing since it has strong winds all year round.

When to Visit: Waters are calm off of White Beach from November through May. Monsoon winds blow June through October. Unless you enjoy being soaked, aim to visit between November and May, though you'll have fewer crowds June through early October.

What It’s Known For: The White beach and the Night life (of course!).


and finally.... (drum roll please!) Palawan!



1. Palawan


Palawan, an island province off the west coast of Luzon is the best place to enjoy some sun, surf and sand. And because of its powdery sands and crystal-clear waters, it became the best island in Earth for the readers of Travel and Leisure Magazine for the second time in a row. Other magazines also gave a similar honor to the island last year. The island is truly an exotic paradise and a new choice destination for beach enthusiasts. This island is also a home for two UNESCO wonders namely the Puerto Prinsesa Underground River and the highly biodiverse Tubbataha Reef.

There are about 50 white sand beaches on the island, five types of forest, three major marine habitats, and many different species of birds. The water is also rich in sea life, which includes marine mammals like dolphins and dugongs of which six are endemic, over one hundred species of coral, and almost one thousand different kinds of fish.

El Nido is also the largest marine reserve and sanctuary in the Philippines with a total area of 903.21 sq. km. It is one of the most diverse ecosystems in the country and its flora and fauna is protected, along with its geologic formations such as its limestone cliffs, home of the swiftlets (apodidae birds whose nests are entirely built from threads of their own saliva, an ingredient also used for the famous bird's nest soup).

When to Visit: The best time to visit is December through March because the weather is nice and dry and there are fewer visitors. If you're traveling during Holy Week or high season (April and May), be prepared for more tourists and higher prices.

What It’s Known For: Bird’s nest soup, beautiful lagoons, limestone cliffs.


However, tourism in these places has been compromising the state of the enviroment. According in a study in year 2015 conducted by Filipino and Japanese people, a decline of up to 70 percent in coral cover over a period of 23 years because of the tourism boom in the famous island of Boracay.  A report in 2014 also claimed that the Underground River is deteriorarting because of the draw of attraction from tourists. UNESCO also added that one of the challenges that the city is facing is coping with the rapid influx of tourists.


These famous attractions are consistently topping local and even international lists of ‘where to go during summer’. But with their present condition, there’s no saying if it will stay at the top for long.  I’m not saying that we should stop seeing these beautiful places. In fact, they definitely deserve to be visited and explored. But you have to remember that if you will go there, take only pictures and should only leave footprints, because we, the millennials, will be replaced one way or another by the next generation and we would want them to have and enjoy the same experience we had with these beautiful islands. Agree?  Definitely! 




References:
NewsbeatSocialPH
www.rappler.com/science-nature/environment/95264-tourism-coral-cover-loss-boracay
www.newsinfo.inquirer.net/655368/un-probes-claim-palawans-underground-river-deteriorating

By: Lem Taruc

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